Aid for Dee's Lifesaving Heart Procedure

My name is Erica Rath. I play darts with Dee, Greg and Matt at the St. Onge Bar on Wednesday nights. Along with Matt Buhler and his mother Pam Buhler, we have organized this GoFundMe for the benefit of Dee and Greg.

Dee Burton and Greg Hedlund of Sturgis are in need of some financial help with some unexpected medical issues. Which will cause Greg to be missing work and add expenses for hotel, food and fuel to get to MN to their bills.

Dee will be on her way to University of Minnesota Hospital to have a major medical procedure done in the next few days. Rather than having a heart transplant, Monument Health in Rapid City will be placing a temporary heart pump (LVAD) this afternoon, January 4th to get her by until she arrives in Minnesota. Then she will be receiving a permanent LVAD, which will keep her heart pumping her blood throughout her body for the rest of her life.

A little history about Dee. She was diagnosed with heart issues in 2006. They told her at that time, she only had 6 years to live. She has survived for 18 years now; with some major heart problems as well as beating cancer numerous times. They opted for the LVAD instead of a heart transplant because of her cancer history. You have to be cancer free for 5 years prior to a transplant, which she is not. This is the safest route for her with chronic heart failure.

With all that being said we would like to be able to help them with some of the added expenses they will be incurring in the near future. Greg will be missing work and need to be in Minnesota with her for at least 4 weeks following the placement of the LVAD. That adds hotel expenses as well as food and fuel for him to be able to be there for Dee. They would be very grateful to anyone that is able to donate to their medical emergency financial hardship. If you are unable to donate at this time, please share the GoFundMe for them.

thank you in advance for any and all help given to Dee and Greg.